Wheel rerailer



March 11, '1952 J. B. HASKELL WHEEL RERAILER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l, 1949 N I NVE NTOR JamasJaw/e,

ATTORNEYS.

March 1l, 1952 l J, B, HASKELL `2,589,077

WHEEL RERAILER Filed Aug. l, 1949 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. B. HASKELL WHEEL RERAILER March 11, 1952 3 sheets-sheets Filed Aug. l, 1949 INVENTOR Imke/ZZ,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 WHEEL RERAILER James Bliss Haskell, Huntington, W. Va., assigner `to West Virginia Steel and Manufacturing Company, Huntington,.W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application August 1, 1949, Serial No. 107,965

The invention relates generally to railway trackage and appurtenances therefor and primarily seeks to provide novel wheel rerailing means placeable opposite switch joints and adapted for quickly and positively effecting the rerailing of wheels which have been derailed.

It not infrequently happens that wheels of cars traveling over railway switches will` become derailed, and it is yquite a problem tc get such wheels back onto the tracks, especially when it is attempted to do so without special equipment and without damaging the rails and the anchoring means therefor. Attempts have been made to devise rerailing Vmeans placeable opposite switch joints for the purpose stated, but such means have not been entirely satisfactory be' cause of faulty design. They have been in a measure effective in guiding the wheels back onto the tracks as the trucks were drawn along thereover, but because of the inclusion of laterally sloping camming surfaces intended to support the wheels and simultaneously force them laterally as they were being drawn along, such de'- vices have unnecessarily imposed great lateral strains on the trackage andl its mountings. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide rerailer devices which are effective to bring about the desired rerailing of wheels positively and with facility while avoiding the problem referred to.

An object of the invention isto provide novel wheel rerailing devices of thev character stated wherein are included upwardly inclined portions for lifting the wheels to a sucient height for proper replacement on the rails, and flat horizontal portions for receiving the wheels from said inclined portions and over which the wheels may move during the actual rerailing process Without imposing objectionable lateral strains on the rails or their mountings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rerailer of the character stated wherein the upwardly inclined portion also is fiatand horizontal in cross section so as to avoid any tendency to cam a wheel laterally as it is being drawn along over said inclined portion onto the fiat and hori zontal top portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rerailer of the character stated wherein there is included on the horizontal and ilat top portion an upstanding camming rib bearing angular relation to a rail onto which a wheelbeing drawn over the rerailer'isto be returned andl eifective to cam the wheel laterally over the'horizontal and attop surface onto said rail.l

9 Claims. (Cl. 246-423) Another object of the invention is to provide a rerailer of the character stated wherein there is included an upright side wall disposed to op-'V pose one rail and having recesses therein passing down through the bottom edge thereof Vin posti-` tion for engaging over bolts forming part of the switch point securing means and constituting the sole means for holding the rerailer against end-` wise displacement.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to `the following detailed description, the ap pended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating arail turnout with the invention applied thereon.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical cross section illustrating the process of rerailing a ipair ofv wheels, the partially lreraile'd con-- dition being shown inY full lines, andthe VfullyY rerailed condition being illustrated indottedlines'.V

Figure 3 is a plan View of the rerailer member designed to liejbetween the outside or straight stock rail and the converging curved-closure rail.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the member shown in Figure 3, looking at the side whichop poses thev curved closure rail and 'overlaps the juncture thereof at the respective Switchpoint. n

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate; in' leftand right end elevations, respectively, the rerailer member shown in Figure 4.

Figure `7 is an enlarged'detail` horizontalsec-v tion illustrating the mounting of the rerailer member shown in Figures` 3' through 6.V

Figure 8 is a detaiiverticar cross section taken on the line 8 8 on Figure '7.

Figure'9 is a vewisimilar to Figure 7 illustratin`g the 'mounting of the other rerailer member.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical' cross's'ectiontalien on the line IU--l 0 on Figure 9.

Figure l1 is a plan-view of the rerailerme'fnber designed to lie between the straight closure rail' and the converging inside or cuvedstock ra'il.

Figures 12` and 13 illustrate, inle'ft and right' end elevation, respectively, the rerailer'mern'ber shown in` Figures 1`1 and 9.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of' the rerailer member shown in Figure V11'.

In the example of einliio'dirn'ent`herein disclosed, the invention is illustrated as -applied'vo'n a conventional form of'V` turnout including an outer or straight stock rail 5, an inner or curved stock rail 6, and a straight switch comprising inner and outer straight switch points designated 1 and 8 respectively.

The turnout also includes a frog 9, a curved closure rail I connecting at one end with one frog rail section, and at its other end with the switch rail 8, and a straight closure rail II connecting at one end with the other frog rail section and at its other end with the remaining switch rail 1. Continuation rails I2 and I3 also connect with the frog in the manner illustrated.

The various rails are supported on suitably arranged ties I4, being removably secured thereon by suitable securing devices I5, and the frog 9 may be formed on a plate I6 which is suitably secured upon tie means in the manner clearly illustrated.

The switch points 1 and 8 are swingably mounted in the usual manner at I1 at the end of the respective closure rails I0 and II, and said points are connected at their free ends as at I8. The connected ends of the switch points are connected by a thrust link I9 with the usual swingably mounted switch lever 29 which can be manipulated to place the switch point in position for causing a car or a connected series of cars to make a turn, or to a position in which the switch point 1 will engage the inner or. curved stock rail 6 and cause said car cr cars to proceed along the straight-way.

The previously described trackway structure, in itself. forms no part of the present invention and'is shown and described merely to illustrate the location and manner of mounting and use of the rerailer structures embodying the invention and the conveyance of said rerailer structures with said trackway structures.

It will be apparent by reference to Figure 1 that the rerailer devices generally designated 2| and 22 are generally`wedge shaped or tapered in plan view and are respectively tted between the converging portions of the outside or straight stock rail and the curved closure rail I0 between the converging portions of the straight closure rail II and the inside or curved stock rail 6. Each said rerailer lies opposite or straddles the respective switch point juncture with the closure rail I0 or II.

The rerailer member 2| is shown in detail in Figures 3 through 8 and includes an outer upright wall 23 and an inner upright wall 24, said walls converging toward a transverse upright end closure wall 25 and being connected by a top 26 which is horizontal and flat in transverse cross section between the points 21 and 28. The top slopes downwardly and endwise slightly as at 29 towardthe end closure wall 25, and slopes endwise and downwardly in a more marked degree as at 30 from the point 28 to the end extremity of the rerailer upon which a wheel will be received during a rerailing operation as will be described hereinafter.

The rerailer also includes an intermediate reinforcing cross wall or web 3|, and from the outer upright wall 23 there are projected three flanges 32 shaped to rest as at 33 upon the base ilange of the rail 5, and also to present lateral edges 34 for placement contact with the upright web of said rail 5. The inner upright wall 23 is equipped with a plurality of recesses 35 which extend down through the lower edge extremity of said wall, and the purposes of these recesses will be described hereinafter.

The rerailer top 26 is provided with an upstanding rerailer or camming rib 36 which includes a laterally flared receiving wall 31. well rounded at its receiving end in the manner indicated at 38 in Figures 3 and 4.

The lower edge extremity of the inner upright wall 24 is shaped to provide a rest portion 39 for engaging upon the base ange of the curved closure rail I0.

The rerailer member 22 is illustrated in detail in Figures 9 through I3, and this member is formed to include an outer, laterally and downwardly sloping wall 40 and an inner upright wall 4| which converge toward a transverse, upright end closure wall 42. The upright walls 40 and 4I are connected by a top 43 which is horizontal and ilat in cross section between the points 44 and 45. The top slopes down endwise slightly at 46 from the point 44 toward the end closure wall 42, and said top slopes in a more marked degree, as at 41, from the point 45 endwise toward the end extremity in which a wheel will be received during a rerailing procedure. The member 22 also includes an intermediate transverse reinforcing wall or web 48.

From the outer upright wall 39 there are projected a plurality of ilanges 49 which are shaped to rest as at 50 upon the Ilange of the inside or curved stock rail 6, and said flanges terminate in lateral edges 5| which are disposed to engage in placing contact with the upright web of said rail 6. The inner upright wall 40 is equipped with a plurality of recesses 52 which extend downwardly through the lower edge thereof, and the purpose of these recesses will become apparent as this description progresses. The lower edge extremeity of the inner upright wall 4I is shaped to provide a rest portion 53 for engaging upon the base llange of the rail II.

The swing points or junctures I1 of the switch are provided by the plates 54 secured by bolts 55 to the webs of the switch points and to the points 1 and 8 with the closure rails I| and I0 webs of the respective rails IIJ and II. Spacer means 56 may be employed to provide the desired freedom of movement of the switch points in the usual manner.

When the rerailer members 2| and 22 are properly mounted in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 7 and 9 the respective upright wall recesses 35 and 52 straddle the nuts of the switch point attaching bolts 55 and this simple engagement of said recesses over the bolts serves as the sole means of holding the rerailer members against longitudinal displacement.

In the somewhat diagrammatic illustration in Figure 2 the rerailing of a pair of wheels is illustrated, the partially rerailed position of the wheels being shown in full lines and the fully rerailed condition being illustrated in dotted lines. It will be noted that the top 26 of the rerailer member 2| is disposed at a lesser height than the top 43 of the rerailer member 22, the difference in height being approximately the depth of a wheel ange. In other words when the flange of a wheel is resting upon the top 26 of the rerailer member 2|, the main body of the wheel will be at an elevation for moving onto the adjacent rail 5. It will be apparent by reference to Figure 2r that the top 43 of the rerailer member 22 is at the same level as the top of the adjacent rail II so that the ilange of a wheel being rerailed may readily pass over from said rerailer top onto said rail.

In order to rerail wheels which have jumped the switch and lie respectively between the converging rails 5-I0 and II-6, it is only necessary to draw the wheels toward the point of convergence of said respective railv pairs, or in other words toward the rerailer members 2| and 22,4 ana as. said wheels` contact the rerailer members they will ride up the somewhat flat and. inclinedslopes 30 and 410i the rerailer members. As the wheels move over the flat tops of the rerailer members, one thereof comes againstthe rerailer or camming rib 36, 31 and is cammed laterally thereby to cause said wheels to move `back onto the receiving rails in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2..

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a turnout, the combination with the outside straight stock rail, the inside curved stock rail, the straight and curved closure rails, the switch points, and the bolts forming a part of means swingably attaching said switch points to said closure rails, of a rerailer disposed opposite the juncture of each switch point and the connected closure rail and filling the converging space between the respective closure rail and the adjacent stock rail, each said rerailer having an upwardly inclined receiving end and a top onto which a wheel can be drawn from said end to ride over said top and be rerailed, and an upright wall opposing the respective switch point and closure rail juncture and equipped with recesses extending down through its lower edge and adapted to straddle and contact parts of the respective bolts as the sole means for retaining the rerailer against longitudinal movement.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which each rerailer includes supporting portions disposed to rest upon base flanges of the adjacent rails, and also laterally extending edges for engaging rail web portions in a manner for preventing side play of the rerailer.

3. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which the top of each rerailer is flat and horizontal, and at least one said top includes an upstanding rib angularly disposed with relation to the adjacent rail onto which a wheel is to be rerailed so as to serve as a camming surface effective to force a wheel being drawn over said top laterally onto the adjacent rail.

4. Structure as dened in claim 1 in which the top of each rerailer is flat and horizontal, and at least one said top includes an upstanding rib angularly disposed with relation to the adjacent rail onto which a wheel is to be rerailed so as to serve as a camming surface effective to force a wheel being drawn over said top laterally onto the adjacent rail, each said rerailer also including supporting portions disposed to rest upon base flanges of the adjacent rails, and also laterally extending edges for engaging rail web portions in a manner for preventing side play of the rerailer.

5. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which the top of each rerailer is flat and horizontal, and the top of the rerailer adjacent the outside straight stock rail includes an upstanding rib angularly disposed with relation to the adjacent rail onto which a wheel is to be rerailed so as to serve as a camming surface effective to force a wheel being drawn over said top laterally onto the adjacent straight stock rail.

6. A rerailer placeable opposite the juncture of a switch point andthe closure rail to which it is` attached.v and betweenlsaid vjuncture and the adjacentconver'ging stock railv in a railway turn-v out, said rerailer comprisingA a pair of upright web walls bearing converging relation to lie` parallel .adjacent raily webs, aflat horizontallydisposed` top at a height for effecting a rerailing of a Wheel drawn thereover, and an upwardly inclined portion leading up to said top and being flatand horizontal in transverse section, said walls presentinglbottom portions to rest upon rail base flanges, and at least one said wall having outwardlyv extending flange portions for resting on. a rail base ange and terminating in outer edge portions for engaging with a rail web, one said wall having at least one recess therein and extending down through its lower edge and adapted to straddle a rail traversing bolt to constitute the sole means for holding the rerailer against longitudinal displacement and also permit mounting of the rerailer by merely dropping it into place after the switch on which it is used has been entirely set up.

7. A rerailer placeable opposite the juncture of a switch point and the closure rail to which it is attached and between said juncture and the adjacent converging stock rail in a railway turnout, said rerailer comprising a pair of upright web walls bearing converging relation to lie parallel adjacent rail webs, a at horizontally disposed top at a height for effecting a rerailing of a wheel drawn thereover, and an upwardly inclined portion leading up to said top and being flat and horizontal in transverse section, and said top having an upstanding rib angularly disposed with relation to an adjacent stock rail onto which said rib is adapted to deflect a wheel so as to serve as a camming surface effective to force a wheel being drawn over said top laterally onto the adjacent stock rail, one said wall having at least one recess therein and extending down through its lower edge and adapted to straddle a rail traversing bolt to constitute the sole means for holding the rerailer against longitudinal displacement and also permit mounting of the rerailer by merely dropping it into place after the switch on which it is used has been entirely set up.

8. A rerailer placeable opposite the juncture of a switch point and the closure rail to which it is attached and between said juncture and the adjacent converging stock rail in a railway turnout, said rerailer comprising a pair of upright web walls bearing converging relation to lie parallel adjacent rail webs, a flat horizontally disposed top at a height for effecting a rerailing of a wheel drawn thereover, and an upwardly inclined portion leading up to said top and being flat and horizontal in transverse section, one said wall having at least one recess therein and extending down through its lower edge and adapted to straddle a rail traversing bolt to constitute the sole means for holding the rerailer against longitudinal displacement.

9. A rerailer placeable opposite the juncture of a switch point and the closure rail to which it is attached and between said juncture and the adjacent converging stock rail in a railway turnout,

said rerailer comprising a pair of upright web walls bearing converging relation to lie parallel adjacent rail webs, a flat horizontally disposed top at a height for effecting a rerailing of a wheel drawn thereover, and an upwardly inclined portion leading up to said top and being flat and horizontal in transverse section, said walls presenting bottom portions to rest upon rail base flanges, one said wall having outwardly extending flange portions for resting on a rail base ange and terminating in outer edge portions for engaging with a rail web, and the other said'wall having at least one recess therein and extending down through its lower edge and adapted to straddle a rail traversing bolt to constitute the sole means for holding the rerailer against longitudinal displacement, and said top having an upstanding rib angularly disposed with relation to an adjacent stock rail onto which said rib is adapted to deflect a wheel so as to serve as a camming surface effective to force a Wheel being drawn over said top laterally onto the adjacent stock rail.

. JAMES BLISS HASKELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordln the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS d Number Name Date 1,010,480 Compton Dec. 5, 1911 1,392,392 Bodie Oct. 4, 1921 10 2,018,450 Kostecka Oct. 22, 1935 2,043,645 Anglin June 9, 1936 

